Page 24 - Jan23T

EMERGING TECH
Cutter Aviation MaXus Power Unit
by Rich Pickett
You are in a Pilatus PC-12 at a remote airport with no FBO within hundreds of miles. It is hot and humid, and you will be flying pas- sengers in need of medical attention. It would be helpful and appre- ciated to pre-cool the airplane and get the aircraft ready for flight.
This is the exact experience I’ve encountered flying during a disaster relief mission. Without running the engine, which isn’t always reasonable, there are no viable options – until now. Cutter Aviation, along with its partners, has embarked on a new design for an in-airplane ground power unit (APU) for the PC-12 and PC-24.
In talking with Dean Miller, Cutter’s STC Program Manager, they found a unique market need and developed an interesting solution. When I first examined the unit, it was like nothing I’d seen before. The unit couples a 45-horsepower Wankel Rotary engine with a starter-alternator which, through a rectifier, provides 300 amp (8.4KW) 28-volt DC power, more than enough to power many aircraft.
Cutter Aviation has teamed up with Advanced Innovative Engineering (AIE), HFE International, Acutronic, and U.S. Technical Consultants to design this APU for the aviation market. AIE is developing the engine and engine subsystems, while HFE is designing the controllers, sensors and test- ing. The alternator and power unit itself is developed by Acutronic, and U.S. Technical is assisting with the STC process. Cutter Aviation expects approval of the STC in 2023.
Cutter Aviation expects approval of the STC in 2023.
22•TWIN&TURBINE/January2023 /EMERGING TECH/